Columbia Univ Now Under Mob Rule ‘violence against Jewish students is imminent’

 

A network of Jewish alumni from Columbia University sent a scathing letter to President Minouche Shafik for allowing anti-Israel protesters to continue to invade campus — warning that violence against Jewish students may be imminent.

“At present, new, unauthorized protests are disrupting classes and creating an irrefutably unsafe environment for Jewish students,” the Columbia Jewish Alumni Association wrote in the letter dated Friday.

As of Friday night, protests demanding the university divest from Israel were still going strong after over 100 participants were arrested when the NYPD stormed the original tent encampment demonstration.

Numerous protesters who were not associated with Columbia swarmed campus — including actress Susan Sarandon and a former professor who once threatened a Post reporter with a machete.

The alumni group fears that “violence against Jewish students is imminent” due to the tensions around Israel’s war and the protests on campus.

The letter cited several troubling incidents that unfolded over the past few days – including when protesters were filmed shouting “The seventh of October is going to be every day for you” – referring to Hamas’ deadly terror attack on southern Israel last fall.

BREAKING: Massive explosion leaves huge crater in Iraqi military base after suspected Israeli strike

An explosion at a military camp in northern Babil province, Iraq, resulted in the death of a member of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and injuries to eight others, the Iraqi Security Media Cell reported on April 20. local media noted.

The blast occurred shortly after midnight at Kalso Camp, which is located along the international road and hosts units from the army, police, and the Popular Mobilization Forces which are believed to be working in league with Iran’s revolutionary guards. The blast comes 24 hours after several Israeli rockets and drones hit Iranian military positions inside the country.

'At one o'clock after midnight last night, an explosion and fire occurred inside Kalso Camp, leading to the death of a member of the Popular Mobilization Forces and injuries to eight others, including an Iraqi army member,' the Cell stated in a press release.

Civil defence teams in Babil responded swiftly, preventing the fire from spreading and bringing it under control quickly.

What Sheer Chutzpah! German FM Lectures Israel on being Humanitarian! Netanyahu tells Her "We Are Not Nazis"

 A tense conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock erupted yesterday over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Baerbock accused Israel of “heading towards famine in Gaza,” prompting Netanyahu to rebuke her claims.

When Baerbock offered to show Netanyahu photos of hungry Gazan children, he responded, “Come and see the pictures of the markets in Gaza, the beaches in Gaza, there’s no famine there.” Netanyahu was referring to recent photos circulating on social media, which show stocked market stalls and Gazans enjoying a day at the beach, following the IDF’s withdrawal from the Strip two weeks ago.

Baerbock countered, “Those photos don’t portray the real situation in Gaza. There is hunger in Gaza.” Netanyahu raised his voice, insisting, “It’s real. It’s reality. It’s not like what the Nazis staged, we’re not like the Nazis who produced fake images of manufactured reality.”

The German foreign minister responded, “Are you saying that our doctors in the field in Gaza aren’t telling the truth? Are you saying that the international media is lying?”

Baerbock’s visit to Israel came in the wake of Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel last weekend, which prompted Germany to urge Israel to show restraint and avoid escalating tensions in the region.

US Sanctions Fundraiser Entities Like "Mount Henron Fund" for Judea & Samaria Settlers

 

The Biden administration on Friday imposed sanctions on two entities accused of fundraising for Israeli West Bank settlers who have allegedly harassed Palestinians, as well as the founder of an organization whose members allegedly assault Palestinians.

There is also friction between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government has reacted angrily to previous sanctions imposed against West Bank settlers.

Included in the Friday sanctions are two entities — Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich — accused of raising funds for sanctioned settlers Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai.

The fundraising campaigns established by Mount Hebron Fund for Levi and by Shlom Asiraich for Chasdai generated the equivalent of $140,000 and $31,000, respectively, according to U.S. Treasury.

The penalties aim to block them from using the U.S. financial system and bar American citizens from dealing with them.

Additionally, the State Department is designating Ben-Zion Gopstein, the founder and leader of Lehava, an organization whose members have allegedly assaulted Palestinian civilians.

Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo said the organizations “undermine the peace, security, and stability of the West Bank. We will continue to use our tools to hold those responsible accountable.”

In February, Biden issued an executive order that targets Israeli settlers in the West Bank who have been accused of attacking Palestinians and Israeli peace activists in the occupied territory but has never been proven.

In a First! U.S. to sanction IDF unit for human rights violations in Judea & Samaria

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to within days announce sanctions against the Israel Defense Forces "Netzah Yehuda" battalion for human rights violations in the occupied West Bank, three U.S. sources with knowledge of the issue told Axios.

Why it matters: It would be the first time the U.S. imposed sanctions on an Israeli military unit.

• The sanctions will ban the battalion and its members from receiving any kind of U.S. military assistance or training, the sources said.
• A 1997 law authored by then-Senator Patrick Leahy prohibits U.S. foreign aid and Defense Department training programs from going to foreign security, military and police units credibly alleged to have committed human rights violations.

Driving the news: On Thursday, ProPublica reported that a special State Department panel that investigated alleged violations of human rights based on the Leahy law recommended months ago that Blinken disqualify multiple Israeli military and police units that operate in the West Bank from receiving U.S. aid.

• At a press conference in Italy on Friday, Blinken was asked about the recommendation and said he had made determinations based on the panel investigation.
• "You can expect to see them in the days ahead," Blinken said.

A U.S. official said Blinken's determination about the Netzah Yehuda unit is based on incidents that occurred before the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and all took place in the West Bank.

• One source said the several other IDF and police units that were investigated won't be sanctioned after they remedied their behavior.
• The State Department declined to comment.

Zera Shimshon Parshas Mehtzora

 

Cops storm Columbia After University Prez finally tells NYPD to clear campus

 

More than 100 protesters were cuffed and hauled away from Columbia University when NYPD cops in riot gear swarmed the campus Thursday after the president made the bombshell decision to clear a large anti-Israel protest encampment.

At least 108 protesters — including some who had to be carried away — were quickly filed onto waiting NYPD corrections buses. 

A huge crowd of other demonstrators then defiantly swarmed to the police vehicles to temporarily block them from leaving the scene.

In the wake of the busts, officers then set about tearing down dozens of tents and dumping them in the trash.  

“I applaud the cops. They are doing the right thing,” one 20-year-old Columbia student, who didn’t want to be named, told The Post. “We don’t feel safe. We fear for our lives.”

“Remember who started this? Hamas, that terrorist group,” he added. “We pay a lot of money to come here and we should feel safe and protected.”

Columbia President Minouche Shafik announced she “authorized” the NYPD to crack down on the encampment.

Bennett presents: The history of Israel in under three minutes

 

Iran strike intended to signal Israel's abilities

 

Following the conclusion of an aerial strike on Iran, Iran has removed all restrictions on flights at the Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, after the flights were suspended due to alleged Israeli attacks in Isfahan.

However, Fly Dubai has cancelled its Friday flights to Tehran.

The strike was carried out in retaliation for Iran's Saturday night launch of 350 drones and missiles towards Israeli territory. A full 99% of the launches were intercepted, only five fell in Israeli territory; only one person, a Bedouin child, was injured.

A spokesperson for the Iranian aviation organization said that the restrictions had also been removed in "several other airports."

Iranian reports also said that Israel's attack was carried out by means of UAVs.

The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), there has been no damage to any of Iran's nuclear sites: "IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites. DG Rafael Grossi continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. IAEA is monitoring the situation very closely."

An intelligence source told CNN that that initial estimates are that Iran will not respond to the attack on its territory. Despite this, reports in Israel said that the Israel's aerial defense system is at peak readiness.

An Israeli official told the Washington Post that the strike on Iran "was intended to signal to Iran that Israel had the ability to strike inside the country."

The US Embassy warned Friday: "Out of an abundance of caution following reports that Israel conducted a retaliatory strike inside Iran, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice. U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel."

Australia issued a similar warning, with a government site urging citizens to "reconsider" travel to Israel and whether those already in Israel need to remain in the area.

"Reconsider your need to travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories overall due to the volatile security situation, including the threat of terrorism, armed conflict and civil unrest," the warning read.

Judge in Trump Trial Refuses to Halt Trial for Pesach to Accommodate Orthodox Lawyers

 The judge in the criminal trial of President Trump has made a surprising decision, announcing that court will be in session during the Holiday of Passover, including on the days of Yom Tov which are Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, as well as Monday and Tuesday of the following week.

According to CNN, “prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked Judge Juan Merchan to confirm if he intends the court go straight until 2 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday for Passover. The judge said that is his plan.”

“Trump attorney Todd Blanche said Monday asked that they do not sit on Tuesday because it’s a holiday the entire day.”

“I can appreciate it’s a holiday, the entire day for him. It’s not a court holiday,” Merchan said.

This is an extremely significant decision by Judge Merchan, because two of Trump’s lawyers are Orthodox Jews, and thus will not be able to attend the proceedings. Jews are forbidden  to do any ‘labor’ on the first two and last two days of Passover, including writing and most forms of travel.

The judge announced the scheduling decision near the closing of proceedings on Thursday afternoon.

Although this is not unheard of, it is very common for judges to accommodate the religious needs of both attorneys and litigants. Specifically in this highly unusual and historic trial, when a former president is being accused of felonies, one would have expected Merchan to be as accommodating as possible to the defense team.

There have been unverified rumors that the judge also disqualified religious Jews to be jurors, which some speculated was not due to their religion but to their tendency to be Trump supporters.